Angkor Cambodia
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Banteay Kdei
The
citadel of the cells . In the ruin and confusion
of Banteay Kdei the carvings take one's
interest. They are piquant, exquisite, not too
frequent... they seem meant.. to make adorable a
human habitation.
Banteay Kdei is located south of Ta Prohm. A
enter the monument from the west and leave at
the west or vice versa, either way, also visit
Srah Srang.
It was built in middle of the 12th century to
the beginning of the 13th century by king
Jayavarman II in Mahaya Buddhism with following
at least two different art periods Angkor Wat
and Bayon -are discernible at Banteay Kdei.
Background
Banteay Kdei has not been restored and allows
the visitor to experience what it may have
looked like originally. Changes and additions
account for is unbalanced layout. Banteay Kdei
was built of soft sandstone and many of the
galleries and porches have collapsed. The wall
enclosing the temple was built of reused stones.
Layout
The temple is built on the ground level use as a
Buddhist monastery. The elements of the original
design of Banteay Kdei seem to have been a
Central Sanctuary (5), a surrounding gallery (6)
and a passageway
connected
to another gallery. A moat enclosed the original
features of the temple. Another enclosure and
two libraries were among the additions in the
Bayon period. The outer enclosure (700 by 500
meters 2,297 by 1,640feet) is made of laterite
(1) and has four entry towers.
A rectangular courtyard to the east is known as
'the hall of the dancing girls', a name derived
from the decoration which includes dancers (2)
The entry tower of the second enclosure (3) is
in the shape of a cross with three passages; the
two on either end are connected to the literate
wall of the enclosure (4) 320 by 200 scrolls of
figures and large female divinities in niches.
In the interior court there is a frieze of
Buddha.
A causeway of a later date, bordered with
serpents, leads to the entry tower of the third
enclosure. It comprises a laetrile wall (6)
includes a gallery with a double row of
sandstone pillars that open onto a courtyard.
Tip Parts of this area have been walled in and
